172 RG tie down straps

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supertrooper2002

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supertrooper2002
I'm looking for some tie down straps to carry in a 172 RG in case an airport doesn't have rope on the ramp tie downs. Anyone have straps that they'd strongly recommend or features to seek out or avoid (ie ratchet mechanism, minimum weight tolerance, etc)?
 
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I got a nice set of rachet tie downs from Sportys. They have locking S hooks and come with short straps go where the S hooks won't fit in the ground in some cases.
That being said I also carry 3 pieces of rope that I have used I think more than the rachet tie downs.
 
EdFred said:
I carry friction straps with me. Looks like ratchet straps, but the ratchet mechanism is replaced with a textured clamp. Thumb release. No worry about bending the wings unless you are REALLY strong.

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I also have those cam lock tie downs, I use them for motorcycles and ATV tie down. Three's no reason they won't work to hold your aircraft down.
I do like the locking S hooks, because I don't put tension on the tie downs so the locking S hook ensures they stay on.
 
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Gary Ward said:
That being said I also carry 3 pieces of rope that I have used I think more than the rachet tie downs.
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Keep your nice Sporty’s straps at your home airport tie down as well as your chocks and use three pieces of Home Depot rope as your travel tie downs. I also have a set of smaller Sporty’s plastic travel chocks.
 
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WDD said:
Keep your nice Sporty’s straps at your home airport tie down as well as your chocks and use three pieces of Home Depot rope as your travel tie downs. I also have a set of smaller Sporty’s plastic travel chocks.
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Luckily I have a rented T hangar so I don't have to tie down at my home airport.
I have found at some ramps it's easier to get rope into the anchors than tie downs.
I made my own chocks out of 2X4 with a table saw. A little rope and couple holes you are good to go.
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My buddy with a Arrow didn't like the small chocks I made, so I split/cut a 4X4 with my table saw but it is not big enough to totally split a 4X4. I used a portaband saw to finish splitting it. A little belt sanding and they came out nice. I didn't take pictures, he wants to paint his to match his plane.
 
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Why do you tie it down? If you think your plane may be buffeted by wind, why tie it down wrong? Straps provide no give. A little give is a good thing, a lot of give is not. I use static mountain climbing rope. Load and stretch specs are tested and published on the label. Dynamic rope stretches too much.
 
I've never felt the need for anything more than simple nylon rope. No hooks to come loose, no heavy buckles to bang around.
 
I bring poly rope (same stuff I make the dock lines out of). I got burned big time by the owner of the flying club giving me some fancy tiedowns that used S hooks at my first Oskhosh. Things were wet enough that the plane sank enough to slacken the tiedowns enough to allow the hooks to jump from the eyes when things started rocking and rolling. Fortunately, I had rope with me but retying the plane in the middle of a high wind stinging thunderstorm was no fun.
 
The flight school I attended they used chains with snap hooks that could not come off. With chains they don't wear as fast from constant use all thorough out the day. We attached the chains after every flight and it would be tough to put them on too tight.
Like I said above IMO any kind of S hook should be locking. Because of course your not going the crank down a rachet strap tight.
I have to give Sporty's instructor credit for showing me how to use rope with the proper knots to tie down because they use ropes.
 
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Gary Ward said:
The flight school I attended they used chains with snap hooks that could not come off. With chains they don't wear as fast from constant use all thorough out the day. We attached the chains after every flight and it would be tough to put them on too tight.
Like I said above IMO any kind of S hook should be locking. Because of course your not going the crank down a rachet strap tight.
I have to give Sporty's credit for showing how to use rope with the proper knots to tie down because they use ropes.
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Most people don't use chains in a secure fashion. We were taught to bring the chain up to the eye, take the closes link and push that through the eye. Take a link from the free end of the chain and pass it over the link in the eye, then hang the hook over the protruding link.
 
A friend’s dad died in a structural failure accident that was attributed to a wing strut attach failure after being tied down with chains in a windstorm. No give. The wing attach got hammered. It broke.
 
Stewartb said:
A friend’s dad died in a structural failure accident that was attributed to a wing strut attach failure after being tied down with chains in a windstorm. No give. The wing attach got hammered. It broke.
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I can imagine that happening. Sad sorry to hear.
The flight school I went to had a large hanger that they would stuff all their aircraft inside for storms.
 
At Rough River I think they repaved the parking ramp a few years ago. They have HD recessed tie down points in the ground. They installed/provided the thickest rope I have ever seen for a aviation tie down. But it is barely long enough for my 172. Pretty sure a 182 or 210 they would be too short. Wonder if they are still there? The rope was so thick that you could not get another tie down in there in the ground.
 
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